by Jack Diablo

Album: Reckoning- Deluxe Edition
Artist: R.E.M.
Label: I.R.S./A&M/UMe
Release Date: June 23, 2009
Coinciding with the 25th anniversary of its initial release, R.E.M. is reissung their sophomore album, Reckoning as a deluxe 2-CD set. The new version will include a remastered version of the 1984 release as well as a live recording of their performance at the Chicago Aragon Ballroom.
Still years away from realizing mainstream success with ‘The One I Love’ and almost a decade before the seminal album Automatic for the People brought us the likes of ‘Losing My Religion,’ Reckoning was recorded during R.E.M.’s days as cult heroes of the early alternative rock scene. Although critically acclaimed and highly successful for a college radio band, its original release was met with modest commercial reception.
The band’s decision to reissue the album is nothing new. They gave their debut album, Murmurs, the same treatment last year and it seems likely they will continue down this path in the future with their subsequent releases.
Regardless of your opinion of what R.E.M. has produced in recent years, the early stuff was ahead of its time and listening to Reckoning is akin to taking the pulse of early eighties alternative music. It is R.E.M. at their purest and although the style has been imitated and refined over time, the album’s relevance is still felt a quarter century later.
The opening track, ‘Harbourcoat,’ shares a feel with fellow alternative pioneers, The Smiths, who began their influential takeover across the pond around the same time. The chorus to ‘(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville’ displays hints of The Grateful Dead or The Byrds with a country rock swagger. In 1984, Rolling Stone called Michael Stipe’s lyrics on tracks like ‘So. Central Rain’ and ‘Pretty Persuasion’ “an impediment that will prevent R.E.M. from transcending cult status” but also notes that “following them should be fun.” We all know how that turned out, eh?
Included on the second disc are eight songs from the album with eight more including their first single, ‘Radio Free Europe’ as well as a cover of The Velvet Underground’s ‘Femme Fatale.’ The reissue will likely please old fans but as to whether or not it will recruit any new ones, only time will tell.